The Mechanical Divine Church's star system
For the Owl Dragon Legion's sudden withdrawal from every local field, the demon legion fleets were able to drive straight in.
But for that pressure left upon them by their fighting with the Owl Dragon Legion before.
Those several demon legions feared this might be another plan of the Owl Dragon Legion's, and determined to wait until the Demon King's Guard Legion behind them arrived, and then enter the Mechanical Divine Church's star system together.
"Reporting, Your Majesty — the Black Angel Legion, the Wrath Legion and the Demon Knight Legion all await here.
"We beg your instruction."
Three shapes of light appeared upon the bridge of His Majesty the Demon King's flagship, each upon one knee, looking toward the Demon King who sat upon the throne.
The Demon King watched these three demon marshals coldly; his eyes went to the empty places beside them, as though he were thinking upon something.
The several demon marshals guessed it too — that the Demon King was thinking upon those three demon marshals fallen upon the field.
Marshal King-of-the-North, Marshal Agares and Marshal Hell-Baron.
Who would ever have thought that one campaign could cost the demon legions three demon marshals at a stroke, and one of them an existence of decisive weight within the Demon Race.
"Well? Do you none of you dare go in?" His Majesty the Demon King drew his feeling back, and looked at the three before him.
The Marshal of the Demon Knights lowered his head and explained, "Because, having reached this place, we learned that Your Majesty's legion fleet would arrive within five hours.
"And taking thought besides that in this campaign we have lost no little already, and of the Owl Dragon Legion's baseness and cunning.
"We therefore determined with one mind to await Your Majesty's coming.
"So that our hosts being joined, we should not fear those tricks of the Owl Dragon Legion's!"
His Majesty the Demon King of course knows what this crew are thinking; he gave a cold snort. "Attack, then."
Upon this order of the Demon King's, the million and more demon warships gathered here set sail once more, and entered this star system of the Mechanical Divine Church.
Having entered it, before long they saw sheet upon sheet of wrecked interstellar warships.
All of them Machine Race wrecks, scattered in every quarter of this star system.
"Reporting — ahead is the Mechanical Divine Church star system's core district.
"But we have found no Owl Dragon-line warship whatever," the Marshal of the Demon Knights reported to His Majesty the Demon King.
"None? Were you not the whole while watching outside!" His Majesty the Demon King demanded.
The Marshal of the Demon Knights answered, "We were watching the whole while, and sent out some interstellar scout ships and scout craft besides.
"But once they were within this district they were very soon found, and thereupon destroyed.
"So that no picture of this core district was taken.
"Yet upon our radar we can detect the energy reactions of a great quantity of interstellar warships within this district."
"Then why do I now see not one Owl Dragon warship!"
Facing His Majesty the Demon King's demand, which carried some fire of anger in it, this Marshal of the Demon Knights could make no answer at all.
"Your Majesty, I hold this may be some strategy of the Owl Dragon Legion's.
"We ought to be somewhat careful.
"I advise that we send a part of our warships in first to scout, and enter ourselves once it is made safe," the Marshal of the Black Angels put forward.
"Do as you have said," said His Majesty the Demon King.
Some hundreds of demon warships formed themselves into scouting squads and began to press deep within.
And very soon an answer was unveiled.
"Reporting — we have reached a position from which an interstellar warship energy signal issued; and here there is but a single Machine Race warship, already destroyed.
"Having sent marines aboard her, we found that this Machine Race warship's engine is barely turning still, but cannot be kept up above a few hours."
Word upon word of this kind was reported back.
And the question why there should be no Owl Dragon warships here, and yet a great quantity of warship energy signals fluctuating, was unveiled.
Nor was it these Machine Race warships put to use alone; there were indeed some cast-off Owl Dragon-line warships here besides, and of these cast-off ships the greater part had been grievously wounded, some with vast holes broken in their hulls.
And upon certain satellites there were even found some signal transmitters set out in disguise.
It was these things that had built up the false show of a great quantity of Owl Dragon warships here.
"So these are the Owl Dragon warships you took them for?" His Majesty the Demon King swept a cold glance across the three demon marshals.
None of the three dared speak.
And just at this moment, marines still carrying out the scouting task cried out, "This is bad — we have found what seems to be an explos—
"Boom…"
At that end of the communication came a vast roar, and thereafter the communication ended.
And the same case arose with the other scouting parties in contact.
As for why — at this moment they could see it with their own eyes.
For within the Mechanical Divine Church's core district there appeared vast fireballs of explosion, one after another, without cease.
The sight of it was for all the world like this star system's last day.
His Majesty the Demon King watched this scene coldly, and no stirring of feeling whatever could be seen upon his face.
But whoever knows His Majesty the Demon King's temper knows that a Demon King with no stirring of feeling whatever is the most terrible of all.
Half an hour later those flames of the bursts at last ceased, but a vast dust hung over that district still.
"That sight just now was very beautiful, was it not." His Majesty the Demon King opened slowly.
The three demon marshals said nothing.
"Hmph. So many Owl Dragon warships vanished from under your very eyelids, and you knew nothing of it.
"But waited outside like fools."
Having said it, His Majesty the Demon King shut off the three demon marshals' holographic images outright.
Thereafter he raised a hand and brought a fist down upon the arm of his own throne, and cracks appeared in that side of it.
He may not care whether the Mechanical Divine Church live or die; but those industrial works here are exceedingly important.
And above all at such a juncture of a great war across the universe.
And now those precious industrial works have been destroyed before his very eyes.
"Pass my order: send men in to look, and save what may be saved.
"Repair whatever can be repaired!" The Demon King, having stilled his own anger, made trial of a last saving of it for all that.
Upon the other side, a hidden T4 Banshee-class Light Interstellar Stealth Scout Ship, having sent the pictures it had taken back to the Dragon Emperor.
Ended its own task besides, and left this Mechanical Divine Church star system without a sound.
Upon the other side, Zhao Chen watched this display of fireworks, and it pained his flesh somewhat within.
Had these things been kept for himself, that would beyond doubt have been of the greatest benefit to the Owl Dragon Legion.
But what help was there, the case standing as it does now?
Upon the Angel Race's field wind and cloud have changed of a sudden, and the Demon King has entered the board in his own person.
To hold this place, the Owl Dragon Legion must pay an exceedingly great price.
Weighing the benefit against the harm, Zhao Chen chose to give it up.
But this thing, which he Zhao Chen cannot have, others need not think to have either.
"Now then — it is time to see to our own business." Zhao Chen looked toward Charlotte at his side.
About his Dragon Emperor lay sheet upon sheet of Owl Dragon warships, their rest and supply complete.
And with them very nearly all the T4 Lucent-class Interstellar Jump Ships that could at present be moved.
Every one of them awaiting a single order.